Pune Crime Branch Visits NCP-Linked PR Firm Design Boxed; Ajit Pawar Denies Any Irregularity

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 13th January 2026: In a development on the final day of campaigning for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections, a team from the Pune City Police Crime Branch on Tuesday visited the Pune office of Design Boxed, a political public relations firm associated with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar.

Police officials have not issued any official statement on the visit so far. However, sources told Punekar News that the Crime Branch team visited the office for preliminary enquiries after receiving certain oral complaints. The exact nature of these complaints has not been disclosed by the police.

The visit has assumed political significance as it took place on the last day of high-voltage campaigning ahead of polling scheduled for January 15.

Reacting to the development, NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar clarified the party’s stand through a post on social media. He said Crime Branch officials had visited the Pune office of Design Boxed, headed by Naresh Arora, to seek information. Pawar stated that all necessary information was provided during the process and full cooperation was extended to the authorities.

“During the course of the enquiry, the required information was shared and complete cooperation was given. No objectionable matter or any irregularity was found during this process,” Pawar said.

He further said the NCP stood firmly behind Naresh Arora and his organisation. “The Nationalist Congress Party wishes to clearly state that it stands firmly with Naresh Arora and his organisation Design Boxed in this entire matter,” Pawar said.

Emphasising the party’s position, Pawar added that the NCP respects the law and believes in cooperating with all statutory procedures. “The party respects the rule of law and believes in extending full cooperation to all legal processes. In this case too, the concerned agencies were given complete cooperation,” he said.

Appealing for restraint, Pawar urged people not to spread confusion or unnecessary narratives over the incident. “No confusion, rumours or unwarranted narratives should be spread regarding this issue. Any conclusions should be drawn strictly on the basis of facts,” he said.

Addressing mediapersons outside Sprint Workspace in Wakdewadi, where Design Boxed is currently operating from, Arora said, “The Crime Branch visited our office to inquire about the work being carried out there and to understand the nature of the Nationalist Congress Party’s activities. They informed us that a complaint had been received and that they had attempted to contact the phone number mentioned in the complaint, but the person concerned is no longer responding to calls.

We will fully cooperate with the police. The officers identified themselves as being from the Pune Crime Branch and did not take anything from the office. No documents were seized, and the officers left after being satisfied with the information provided.

If money distribution had been taking place, something would have been found at the spot, but nothing of that sort was recovered. I was not called for questioning, and I have not spoken to the Police Commissioner.

I do not wish to comment on political matters. I am not a political person. I have been working for the past ten years and have never done anything wrong. I have always carried out positive work.”

Meanwhile, Pune City Police stated, “Some information was received about suspicious activity going on at a location in the jurisdiction of Pune Commissionerate. Immediately a team of one officer and two policemen was hurried to the spot to verify it. Nothing adverse was noticed at the place nor with the people working there.
Thereafter the team left immediately. Nothing adverse was noticed.”